Building block



March 21, 1939. HENDERSON 2,151,468

BUILDING BLOCK F iled Oct. 21, 1936 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 9 v i: I' Y w IX Q 11 is:

INVENTOR Alb ert H617 dehs a 4;, wan- 4 March 2 1, 1939. A HENDERSONBUILDING BLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct 21, 1956 INVENTOR AmaraHenderson March 21, 1939.

mu m wwfifi E G.- mmmG a W Ew H d Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFHCE BUILDING BLOCK Application October 21, 1936, Serial No.106,796

4 Claims.

This invention relates to building blocks and. particularly to a seriesof a relatively small number of blocks capable of serving for all useswhich require a much greater number of blocks as now '5 constructed.

Molded concrete building blocks are made in two styles: plain face androck face. The widths of the blocks vary, but fractional sizes andspecial shapes, such as quarters, halves, and threequarters, arerequired for each width, also corner blocks, half and full size jambblocks, column blocks and other special shapes for sills, lintels andcoping. Each width of block thus requires about ten fractional andspecial sizes and shapes in addition to the standard block. Thus acomplete line of plain and rock face blocks in two widths, the mostpopular being 8" and 12", requires the stocking of some thirty-eightdifferent shapes and sizes. This large number of different styles ofblock required under the present practice is a serious obstacle to thewide use of concrete block in buildings.

I have invented a series of blocks by which I can reduce the number ofsizes and shapes required for both plain and ornamental blocks, to amaximum of four blocks, including both the widths above mentioned.According to the invention, I provide a standard block having one sideface plain and one ornamental, one end ornamental and the other endprovided with a sash slot. I also employ an extra width block similar inotherrespects to the standard block. In addition, I employ fractionalblocks, such as quarter and eighth sizes, and by various combinationsthereof, I can provide all the other fractions necessary, and constructthe various parts of a block structure which heretofore required specialshapes. The quarter and eighth blocks have three adjacent facesornamental, and the other three adjacent faces plain.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, together with various combinations of the different blocks ofthe series, and reference will be made to these drawings for a detaileddescription. It will be understood, however, that the invention may beembodied in forms other than shown therein. In the drawings,

, Figure l is a perspective view of the standard Figure'Za (Sheet 3) isa transverse sectional view through the extra width block, taken alonthe line II-II of Figure 2;

Figs. 5 through 8 are plan views of courses showing various combinationsof the blocks of the series, with parts in section;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a wall having various blocks of the seriesembodied therein;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 throughl l are sectional views taken through courses assembledfrom the extra width block and fractional blocks;

Fig. 15 is an elevation of the wall shown in section in Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 17 are views similar to Figs. 11 through 14, showing othercombinations of standard and fractional blocks;

Figs. 18 through 20 are perspective views show ing the use of blocks inthe series to form structures, such as columns, chimneys or the like;and

Figs. 21 and '22 are perspective views of a wall corner showing thevariety of uses to which the various blocks of the series may be put,the ornamental faces of the blocks being exposed to view in theconstruction shown in Fig. 21 and the plain faces in Fig. 22.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the standard block of my seriesis shown at 10. Its width and height are substantially equal, while itslength is substantially twice the width and height. The block has voidsH. One side face I2 is ornamental having a recessed panel formedtherein. The same is true of one end [3. The other side face is plain,while the other end face has a sash slot [4. The top and bottom faces ofthe block are plain, but are not continuous, because of the voids II andthe slot 14.

A convenient size for the block It! is what is considered in the tradeas 8 x 8" x 16" block. Actually, these dimensions are 7% x7 4" xl5%, toallow for the mortar joint between adjacent blocks. The 2:1 relationbetween the width or height and length of block is thus not strictlyfollowed in practice but describes the relations of the dimensions withsubstantial accuracy.

An extra width block I5 is shown in Figs. 2 and 2a. This block issimilar to block [0, but has a width 50% greater than the latter. It hasornamental and plain faces, an ornamental end, and the slotted end,similar to those of the block 10. The voids iii are wider than the voidsII but the upper ends of both are drawn inwardly slightly as shown at I!in Fig. 2a. The voids 15 are bridged by hand grips Hi to facilitate lifting the blocks. A reinforcing bar 19 is embedded in for a steel sash 26.

' shown, in the usual manner.

in the hand grips, and has its ends bent downwardly, as shown in Fig.2a, so as to be embedded in the end walls of the block. The slot M ofthe block I5 is spaced from the ornamental face I2 thereof by the samedistance as the slot I 4 is spaced from the face I2. A convenient sizefor the block I5 is 8" x 12" x 16", so called, actually 7% x 11%" x15%".

Figure 3 shows a quarter block 20 having a length equal to the width ofthe block II], a height equal to the height of the block I and a widthequal to one-fourth the length of the block I0. Three adjacent faces ofthe block 20 are ornamental having recessed panels 2l therein, while theremaining faces are plain.

Fig. 4 shows an eighth block 22 having a height and width one-half theheight and Width of the block I0, and a length equal to the width of theblock It. This block has three adjacent ornamental faces provided withrecessed panels, and three plain faces.

Fig. 5 illustrates a course of standard blocks It in which a quarterblock 20 is included, being disposed with its length transversely of thewall and its height vertical so as to occupy one-fourth the space of oneof the blocks I0.

Fig. 6 shows two quarter blocks 2|] disposed side by side in a course ofblocks I 0, to occupy a space half the size of that filled by the blocksIii. One of the blocks I0 is shown in section in Fig. 6, further toillustrate the details of its construction, particularly the drawing inof the voids II adjacent one end.

Fig. '7 shows two blocks 20 disposed longitudinally side by side in acourse of blocks. l0, and a third block 20 disposed transversely to filla space three-fourths the size of that occupied by one of the standardblocks.

Figs. 8 through 10 show the use of quarter blocks as jamb, sill andlintel blocks in a wall composed of standard blocks III. The wall,indicated generally at 25, hasan opening there- The opening is definedby blocks 20 laid in pairs as shown in Fig. 10 to constitute a sill 26',jambs 21 and a lintel 28. The edge of the steel sash 26 extends betweenthe pairs of quarter blocks forming the sill, jambs and lintel, asplainly shown in Figs. 8 through 10. The lintel blocks are carried onsteel angle-s, not Fig. 10 further shows the character of the voids IIin the blocks ID.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the block 20 serves notonly as a quarter block and as a half block when used in pairs, and as athree-quarter block where three are combined as shown, but also as aspecial block for sills, jambs and lintels.

In addition to the quarter and eighth blocks, I

may also employ a similar fractional block having the dimensions 3%" x7%" x11%" and a fractional block having a uniform thickness ofapproximately 2". These fractions may be solid or of channel shape, andhave plain or ornamental faces.

Fig. 11 shows a course of extra width blocks I5. When it is necessary tofill a space one fourth the size of the block in such a course, it isonly necessary to break in half one of the blocks 20, and lay the halfwith the ornamental end as shown at in Fig. 11, the other end being laidas shown Fig. 12 shows the use of two blocks 20 spaced apart to fill aspace half the length of the blocks I5 in a course composed thereof. Oneof the 'pearance on adjacent sides.

quarter blocks is laid with its ornamental face in the plane of theornamental faces of the blocks I5, and the other block with its plainface in the plane of the plain faces of the blocks l5.

Fig. 13 similarly shows the arrangement of 5 In with its ornamental faceexposed, and by lay- 10 ing a block 22 in the space between the blocksI5 adjacent the corner. Fig. 14 also shows the use of quarter blocks 20in combination with extra width blocks I5 to form sills, jambs andlintels. As shown in Fig. 15, the full length blocks 15 are disposedwith their sash slots adjacent the window opening. Quarter blocks 20laid, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, provide continuations of the sashslot in the jambs. The sill and the lintel are composed of an outercourse of blockszo 20 laid with their lengthslongitudinally of the wall,and an inner course of-blocks laid with their length transversely of thewall. 'From the relative dimensions of the several blocks of the seriespreviously stated, it will be apparent that 5 the lengthof the block20,.plus its Width, is subi stantially equal to the Width of the blocksI5. A sash 32 similar to that shown at 26 is disposed in the continuousslot in the jambs, sill and lintel,

defining a window opening in a wall indicated generally at 33.

Fig. 16 illustrates the use of blocks 20 to form a pilaster 35 in a wall36 composed of blocks ID. The blocks 20 are arranged in the wall 36 inthe same manner as shown in Fig. 14, via, an outer 35 course with theirlengths disposed longitudinally,

and an inner course with their lengths disposed transversely of thewall, thus forming a pilaster having a width greater than the Wall. Asthe pilaster is solid, it is capable of function as a-- column tosupport heavy loads.

Fig. 1'7 illustrates a wall 31 formed of blocks l0 having a back-up 38formed of quarter blocks 20. As shown, the latter are laid with theirplain faces disposed interiorly of the wall, providing a. smooth; wallsurface. 7

Fig. 18 illustrates a chimney or column 40 composed of blocks 20 laid upin the manner shown.

Fig. 19 shows a column 4| composed of blocks I0 and quarter blocks 20.This combination pro-' vides a column of greater size and bearingcapacity than that of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 shows a small column 42 composedof blocks 20 arranged in a manner somewhat different than that shown' inFig. 18.

- r 1 Fig. 21 is a fragmentary showing of a Wall corner illustrating thevarious uses to which the different blocks of the series may be put.Blocks I0, for example, form the stretcher blocks of the wall, and sincethey have adjacent sides and ends ornamented, the wall corner has afinished ap- Fig. 2I also illustrates the use of quarter blocks 20 asjam'bs and lintels. Quarter blocks 20 are also employed to form asoldier course 43. The blocks 20 are also 1 used to form a stretchercourse 44 above the soldier course. Finally, the blocks 20 provide acoping 45 at the top of the wall.

Fig. 22 illustrates another possible variation.

of wall construction in which the plain faces only 7 of the blocks areexposed by interspersing the standard and fractional blocks in themanner indicated, the appearance simulating-that of an ashlar wall.

Itwill be apparent from the foregoing descrip-,

tion that the invention provides a series of building blocks capable ofserving in all cases where special sizes and shapes of blocks arerequired under the present practice, using a maximum of only fourdifferent blocks which are all similar in general, and have a specificratio of dimensions. The cost of block wall construction is materiallydecreased by eliminating the excessive number of special sizes andshapes heretofore required, as Well as the necessity for maintainingcomplete stocks of a large number of different kinds of blocks.

While I have illustrated but one preferred embodiment of the invention,it will be understood that other forms may be resorted to within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall construction [including stretcher blocks'laid up in coursesand a load bearing pilaster abutting spaced sections of said wall andextending laterally therefrom, said pilaster being formed of solidfractional units, having a height equal that of the blocks and a lengthsubstantially one-half that of said blocks and a width substantiallyone-quarter the length of said ratio 2:1:1, and a fractional blockhaving its length, height and width in the ratio 1:1: in the same unitswhereby a pair of fractional blocks may be laid side by side asstretchers to replace half a stretcher block, and a fractional block maybe laid as a header to replace a quarter of a stretcher block.

3. A block wall comprising a plurality of courses of stretcher blockseach having its length, height and width in predetermined unitssubstantially in the ratio 2:1:1, and fractional blocks each having itslength, height and width substantially in the ratio 1:1: in the sameunits, said fractional blocks being laid as stretchers to form lintelsand sills and as headers to form a separate course adjacent a course ofstretcher blocks.

4. A series of building blocks comprising a stretcher block having itslength, height and width in predetermined units substantially in theratio 211:1, a fractional block having its length, height and width inthe ratio 1:1: in the same units whereby a pair of fractional blocks maybe laid side by side as stretchers to replace half a stretcher block,and a fractional block may be laid as a header to replace a quarter of astretcher block, and a second stretcher block having its length, heightand width in the ratio 221.11%, in the same units.

ALBERT HENDERSON.

